The coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla

At this point in the service, people around the UK are invited to pledge allegiance to the newly crowned King – a new innovation that was met with some skepticism and controversy when it was unveiled in the weeks before the service.

The Archbishop of Canterbury swears fealty first, before Prince William kneels before his father to give his own homage.

In previous coronations, these two moments were followed by royal dukes and other peers also pledging allegiance to the monarch — but this has been scrapped for Charles’ coronation, according to the Church of England's liturgy.

Instead, for the first time, the Archbishop invites the general public watching and listening to the ceremony in both the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth to pledge their own allegiance to the king.

A public backlash: When those plans were unveiled, it caused some controversy around the country – and the Church of England has changed the wording of its invitation following the response.

The earlier version had been described as “ill-advised” by Jonathan Dimbleby, a veteran broadcaster and prominent friend of the King.

“I can think of nothing that he would find more abhorrent. He’s never wanted to be revered. He’s never wanted, so far as I know, to have anyone pay homage to him except in mock terms as a joke,” Dimbleby told BBC Radio 4’s “Today” program on Friday.

Gun salutes are being fired from 13 locations across the UK including Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast, and on deployed Royal Navy ships, as King Charles III is crowned.

The largest, a 62-round salute, is happening from the Tower of London. A six-gun salute is underway at Horse Guards Parade and 21 rounds are being fired at the remaining locations.

The bells of Westminster Abbey are ringing out to celebrate the historic moment.

For the first time in seven decades, a new British monarch has been formally crowned.

The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby placed St. Edward's Crown upon Charles III's head, the most significant part of the coronation service.

After crowning the King, Welby said: "God Save the King."

It's the only time Charles will ever wear St. Edward's Crown, which is reserved for the coronation of a new monarch.

Charles is being presented with the coronation regalia, including the royal Robe and Stole, as the next part of the service, the investiture, gets underway.

Among these symbolic and priceless objects is the Sword of Offering, or Jewelled Sword, which is being carried and presented by a woman, British lawmaker Penny Mordaunt, for the first time since it was first used in the coronation of King George IV.

The sword was made in 1820 and is protected by a gold-covered leather scabbard, according to the Church of England's liturgy.

The Archbishop of Canterbury blesses the sword before it is delivered to the king on the condition it is used for the protection of good, and then offered to the altar. The Jewelled Sword represents the other swords displayed in the coronation: The Sword of State, the Sword of Spiritual Justice, and the Sword of Mercy, also known as Curtana.

According to the Church of England, the sword has dual meaning: It's meant to symbolize defense of the defenseless and also represent the word of God, which St. Paul compares to a sharp sword in the Bible.

Other objects in the investiture are the Armills, also known as the Bracelets of Sincerity and Wisdom, the Orb, and the Sceptre and Rod. This is the final stage before the crowning.

You can see photos and learn more about the priceless symbols involved in the King's coronation here.

The third and most sacred phase of the service, the anointing, is underway.

It began with the King and Queen kneeling at the Chairs of Estate, as the choir sang in English, Welsh, Gaelic, and Irish. The Archbishop of Canterbury led a short prayer.

Now, the most dramatic part of the ceremony is starting. It is the only section that is taking place away from the crowds, cameras and sharp-eyed photographers.

What's happening: The Dean of Westminster pours holy oil from the Ampulla, a gold eagle-shaped flask, on to the Coronation Spoon, and then the Archbishop of Canterbury anoints Charles on his head, breast and hands, according to the Church of England's liturgy.

The 12th-century, silver-gilt spoon is the oldest object used in coronations, having survived the obliteration of royal regalia during the English Civil War. By contrast, the Ampulla was most likely melted down. A new one was created for King Charles II’s coronation in 1661, following the restoration of the monarchy the year before.

The anointing takes place behind a three-sided screen, hidden from view while Charles is seated on the Coronation Chair.

In the background, the Choir of Westminster Abbey sings the anthem "Zadok the Priest" by George Frideric Handel, which was composed for the coronation of King George II in 1727 and performed at every British coronation since.

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby is reading a sermon, bringing the second part of the ceremony to an end.

"We are here to crown a King, and the King is crowned to serve," he said at the start of the sermon.

He honors many of those in attendance for their charity, community and military work, and singles out 400 "extraordinary young people" who have been selected to watch from nearby St. Margaret’s Church.

Sarah Mullally, Dean of His Majesty’s Chapels Royal, has read the Gospel.

The reading is bookended by a two-part composition by the prolific British composer Debbie Wiseman – best-known for her TV and film work – called "Alleluia (O Clap your Hands)" and "Alleluia (O Sing Praises)."

The second part of the work is sung by the Ascension Choir, and it's another first – the first time that a gospel choir has sung at a coronation.

Rishi Sunak, the British Prime Minister, is conducting a reading from the Bible.

It comes from the Epistle to the Colossians:

King Charles has read a prayer out loud, becoming the first monarch to do so at a coronation.

It's followed by the Gloria from the Mass for Four Voices by the Renaissance composer William Byrd.

Here's the prayer he read: